I didn’t mean to write a third post (one and two) on Tarn’s book, but I couldn’t resist this one. At the end of his Narrative Tarn considers various aspects of Alexander’s Personality, Policy and Aims. As part of this he looks at how the king was seen by his various subjects. Very differently, as it turns out.
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Amyphictyonic League - ‘a man who owned two votes’
Asia (i.e. the Persian Empire) - a god
Babylon - Alexander acted as a self-limited autocrat
Caria - ? Tarn states ‘Caria retrained her native league of Zeus Chrysaoreus’
Cilicia - ‘several Greek or semi-Greek cities in… C. were his subjects’
Cypriot kings - ‘were free allies’
Egypt - autocrat and god
Greece* - i. autocrat ii. ‘President and war leader of the League of Corinth’ iii. ‘god of several of the cities’
Iranian Landowners - ‘he was a feudal superior’
Judaea - ‘the High Priests still governed Judaea according to the Law’
Lydia - Alexander acted as a self-limited autocrat
Macedon - quasi-constitutional king
Pamphylia - ‘several Greek or semi-Greek cities in P…. were his subjects’
Persepolis - ‘kept her native priest-kings’
Phoenicia - the ‘Phoenician kings were subject allies’
Punjab - ‘Alexander was merely for a little while the rather nominal suzerain of certain rajahs who happened to be ruling certain groups of villages’
Seistan - ‘part of S. was autonomous’
Thessaly - ‘[E]lected head for life of her league’
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‘[O]ld Greek cities of Asia along the Aegean and as far north as Cyzicus were his free allies’
‘[M]any Greek cities, notably those on the Black Sea and in Italy and Sicily, had no relations with [Alexander] at all’
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* Referring to Greece in this list might be seen as a bit inaccurate as Tarn says she was not part of Alexander’s empire, even though she was not ‘entirely outside it’
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Tarn’s book is now over half a century old so one needs to be mindful of that his understanding of Alexander may not hold fast anymore. Assuming the list’s basic accuracy, however, it is for me a fascinating insight into how Alexander was regarded by his subject peoples. Especially since I have been so used to see him as a second Achilles.
Monthly Archives: January 2014
Visions of Alexander
Tarn Springs Some Surprises
I have now finished W W Tarn’s Narrative. Here are three things that made an impression upon me between pages 86 and 148. If you would like to read what I thought of the first half of the book and can’t see the relevant post below this one, just click here.
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Alexander and Herodotus
Herodotus was no longer much read… there is no sign that Alexander knew him at all, not even his account of Scylax’s voyage.
(Tarn, p. 86)
I almost drew breath when I read this even though I have no idea whether it is accurate or not. My understanding is that Alexander was a well read man. Is this not true? Of course, we may well have been and still not known about Herodotus’ Histories if the latter had fallen into obscurity. Tarn’s book was published just after World War II ended and at least one part of it was written in the 20s so scholarship may have discovered that Herodotus was not a stranger to Alexander after all. I certainly hope so. The alternative does not seem at all fitting.
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In the last post, I noted a couple of points where Oliver Stone used Tarn’s text in his film about Alexander. In the film, Stone has Bucephalus die during the Battle of the Hydaspes River. I had always thought this to be inaccurate and that Bucephalus died at some point earlier or later. Tarn surprised me, therefore, when I read,
Alexander after his victory [in the Battle of the Hydaspes] founded two cities, Alexandria Nicaea where his camp had stood, and Alexandria Bucephala on the battlefield, nicknamed from his horse which died there…
(Tarn, pp 96-7)
Ah. Maybe my memory was at fault, then. I jumped to Arrian to see what he said. Sure enough…
Porus’ son… wounded Alexander with his own hand and struck the blow which killed his beloved horse Bucephalus.
(Arrian, p. 274)
To be sure, Arrian is talking about the engagement that took place just before the battle started but it was a confrontation that was part of the whole so on that basis we can give Stone and Tarn a qualified pass. Except, Plutarch -
After [the battle at the Hydaspes River] Bucephalus… died, not immediately but some while later. Most historians report that he died of wounds received in the battle, for which he was being treated but according to Onesicritus it was from old age, for by this time he was thirty years old.
(Plutarch, para 61)
I don’t know much about Onesicritus but if his Wikipedia entry is accurate then he is not necessarily a writer to be trusted.
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The last thing that made a big impression definitely did make me draw a breath, which is funny because its one of those things I kind of knew already. In short, it highlighted how interested Alexander was in exploring and learning about the world. My principle image of him is, of course, as the second Achilles - being all about the war and glory. Tarn makes it clear though, that Alexander was simply not about blood ‘n guts. Here is the relevant passage:
[Alexander] attacked the secret of the ocean. He sent Heracleides to explore the Hyrcanian sea, and ascertain whether Aristotle had been right in calling this great expanse of salt water a lake, or whether the old theory that it was a gulf of Ocean might not be true after all…
He himself turned his attention to the Persian Gulf. He took steps to ensure better communication between Babylonia and the sea by removing the Persian obstacles to free navigation of the Tigris and founding an Alexandria on the Gulf at the mouth of that river…
He also planned to colonise the eastern coast of the Gulf, along which Nearchus had sailed, and sent 500 talents to Sidon to be coined for the hire or purchase of sailors and colonists. This would help to establish the already explored sea-route between India and Babylon; but he meant to complete the sea-route from India to Egypt by exploring the section between Babylon and Egypt and circumnavigating Arabia, possibly as a preliminary to still more extensive maritime exploration in the future. He therefore planned an expedition along the Arabian coast…
(Tarn, p. 118)
I can’t tell you what about this passage opened my eyes because I don’t know, but reading it felt like a splash of cold water to the face. As I said above, I already knew that Alexander was a keen explorer and student but what this passage has succeeded in doing is bringing that truth home to me in a strong and direct way. I’m not going to rename this blog The Second Aristotle but sure I won’t forget it in a hurry.
Editions Used
Arrian The Campaigns of Alexander (Penguin Classics London 1971)
Plutarch The Age of Alexander (Penguin Classics London 2011)
Tarn, W W Alexander the Great I Narrative (Cambridge University Press 1948)
Some Thoughts on W W Tarn’s “Narrative”
In the four years I have been reading about Alexander the Great the name of W W Tarn has often been mentioned, usually as an apologist for Alexander; a modern-day Aristobulos. Today, I visited the library and started reading Sir William Woodthorpe Tarn’s words for the first time. The book in my hands was vol. 1 of his two part book on Alexander - Narrative.
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The Narrative is a short book (148 pages) and so races through Alexander’s life. Having started on page 1 I ended the day on page 85 with the Macedonian army about to invade India.
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The reason I have been inspired to put finger to keyboard is because of a couple of things that Tarn says that sounded very familiar. Here is the first. According to Tarn, Persepolis marked the beginning of ‘Alexander’s tragedy’. It was,
… the tragedy of an increasing loneliness, of a growing impatience with those who could not understand, of a failure which nevertheless bore greater fruit than most men’s successes.
(Tarn, p. 55)
Sound familiar? Compare it with this:
… His tragedy was one of increasing loneliness and impatience with those who could not understand. And if his desire to reconcile Greek and barbarian ended in failure… What failure! His failure towered over other men’s successes
Here is Tarn again, talking about the Macedonian army as it reached the Jhelum river.
The army had become a moving state, a reflection of the Empire…
(Tarn, p. 84)
And now this,
In the spring, Alexander marched an army of 150,000 across the passes of the Hindu Kush into the unknown. In his dream, it was the promised route to the end of the world. We were now a mobile empire stretching back thousands of miles to Greece.
The second quotations are from Oliver Stone’s Alexander film (2004) - both form part of the elder Ptolemy’s narration. It looks to me like Mr Stone and his co-writers had Tarn by their side when they wrote the script for the film!
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I don’t agree with everything that Tarn says. For example, he finds no fault with the trial and execution of Philotas but says that Parmenion’s death was ‘plain murder’. In my opinion, the issue of Philotas’ guilt is the difficult matter and the necessity to kill Parmenion the straight forward and justifiable one.
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Taking Philotas first; Tarn cites Ptolemy who, according to Arrian, says that
… the persons who had reported [the conspiracy against Alexander] came forward, with various irrefutable proofs of [Philotas'] guilt… of which the most damning was that he admitted knowledge of a plot against Alexander but had said nothing about it, in spite of the fact that he was in the habit of visiting Alexander’s tent twice a day.
(Arrian, p. 191)
Philotas may have been given a fair trial ‘according to [the Macedonian army's] lights’ (p. 63) but being executed simply because he hadn’t reported the plot seems awfully rum to me. You could say, ‘well, it was a plot; he was at the very least hopelessly naive for not reporting it’ but I can’t accept that someone of Philotas’ experience would make such a basic error. If he didn’t report, I think it would have been because he genuinely didn’t feel it needed to be reported.
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As for Parmenion, Tarn himself admits that there was no chance that the general could be made to retire. ‘There were only two known alternatives: he must rebel or die’ (p. 64). It seems to me that if the Macedonian army acted properly in condemning Philotas, then Alexander acted correctly in assassinating Parmenion. He would have known what Parmenion’s two choices were and took the only decision that someone in his position could reasonably take. Parmenion’s death may have come about due to an unjust execution but his death, while unfortunate, was wholly necessary and justified.
Editions Used
Arrian The Campaigns of Alexander (Penguin Classics London 1971)
Tarn, W W Alexander the Great I Narrative (Cambridge University Press 1948)
The quotations from Oliver Stone’s Alexander come from the Alexander Revisited cut of the film
Ochus’ Unlikely Saviour
Based on The Spies of Ancient Athens by Reynard and Grün (London, 2004)
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“Darius III had three known children by his second wife, Stateira; two daughters, Stateira (also known as Barsine) and Drypetis, and a son, Ochus.
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In February 324 B.C. Stateira II and Drypetis married Alexander and Hephaestion respectively as part of the Susa marriage ceremonies. IN October of that year, Hephaestion died. Alexander followed him to the grave the following June. The widows did not long outlive their husbands for both were murdered at the behest of Roxane and Perdiccas not long later.
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What of Ochus? Neither the vulgate or good sources make any reference to him. However, given that Staeira II’s and Drypetis’ murders were politically inspired it has been assumed that Ochus would have been killed for the same reason.
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However, the Athenian spies at work in Babylon following Alexander’s story offer a very different and surprising version of events.
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Their reports begin familiarly enough. On the day after Alexander’s death, a spy on Roxane’s staff stated that,
… while I busied myself with the cleaning of [Roxane's] quarters, she spoke but feet away from me to Perdiccas. They were plotting. He wanted power. She wanted life. He offered [Roxane] what she wanted in return for her absolute loyalty.
Three days later, the same spy - presumably while working in Roxane’s quarters - saw the queen write her response to Perdiccas.
… [it] contained but two words: I accede. She gave it to her favourite servant, and urged him to pass it into Perdiccas’ hands and his alone with all haste.
It is at this point that the story takes its first turn. Two weeks later, the spy in Perdiccas’ office reported how a Macedonian officer named Amyntas had burst into Perdiccas’ study while he was working.
… [Perdiccas was] angered by Amyntas’ sudden coming but the officer begged him to listen to the reason for it before punishing him. Perdiccas ordered him to continue. Amyntas advised Perdiccas with great haste and feeling that he had just come from the royal chambers. Four drunk Macedonian soldiers of the infantry had broken into Ochus, son of Darius’ rooms, assaulted and castrated the boy.
Perdiccas was for a time too shocked by this report to make comment but eventually asked how the soldiers had broken past the prince’s guard. Amyntas said that one guard had been found dead at his post and the other was missing. Perdiccas cursed him for a traitor.
Unfortunately, Perdiccas then ordered the spy - and every other person except Amyntas - out of the room while they carried on talking alone. To find out what happened next, we must return to Roxane’s servant-spy.
… [we receive]ed report of the mutilation of Ochus just before our lady [i.e. Roxane] retired for the night. The staff were much worried about what this might portend for her ladyship but she assured them Ochus was harmed because he was a Persian while she, though also a barbarian, was also Alexander’s wife
This report was written 5 - 7 days (the fragment is not clear) after Ochus was attacked.
… Prince Ochus is near death. No one believes he will survive. Perdiccas has Philip of Arcanania looking after him…
Unfortunately, we do not know when this following report was written. Given the type of injury that Ochus suffered it was presumably several weeks later.
… [I] saw Prince Ochus from a distance. He limped heavily but could walk with the aid of a stick. He looked grievously ill.
… three months have past since I saw Prince Ochus. None of the servants I have asked know anything of him. I believe he is dead.
But he wasn’t, as the spy was to discover five days after sending the above report.
Ochus lives. I fell asleep while working in her ladyship’s chambers. When I came to I heard her and Perdiccas talking in the room next door. I hid and listened to what they said.
“He is finally at ease and is ready to be moved.”
“Where will Bagoas take him?”
“To his own village where the eunuch’s own people may care for him.”
“Can we really trust that the boy will not act against us in the future?”
“Ochus has no future. No man will follow one who has been unmanned.”
“Yet still I fear that he may be used by our enemies.”
“You need not. As soon as Philip judged him able to be moved I hid him away from the palace for a reason. My deception has worked - all now think he died with his sisters.
Three years later, Perdiccas failed to invade Ptolemy’s Egypt. The same spy who reported on him in Babylon sent this report back to Athens apparently following the failure of the general’s second invasion.
[Perdiccas] knew his officers now hated him and waited for his killers to arrive with a disconsolate heart. I tried to cheer him but until I mentioned Prince Ochus’ name, he would not listen.
“What do you know of that name?” he asked me.
“I know that you did not kill him.” I replied.
“How so?”
“For that you only kill when you must not because you can. I refuse to believe you would hurt a boy already in a sense dead,”
“Aye,” he said, “You are right. Death is a monstrous thing and is to be given only to those who are worthy; he was not. We destroyed his family, his country, and his chance to be remembered by sons and grandsons. Yes, I intended to kill him with his sisters but when I was about to give the order I felt my tongue stopped. By what or whom I do not know but for once in my life mercy overcame power. I do not regret it.”
There is a certain contradiction in the reports. The servant-spy implies that Perdiccas never intended to kill Ochus along with Stateira II and Dryeptis - presumably because of his castration - while the spy in Perdiccas’ camp suggests that the boy’s fate was in doubt until just before the sisters were murdered.
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We have no way of knowing which account is correct. My inclination, however, would be to go with the servant-spy’s, as the Perdiccan spy’s dialogue smacks of romanticism in terms of the way it talks about tongues being stopped by unknown powers. By contrast, the servant-spy’s report is much more organic and rational. However, we will never know for sure.”
Camp Notices: Those Arrogant Celts Edition
Megas Alexandros: a gracious winner
The King’s Speech
Danube River
It has been an exciting few days on both the sides of the mighty Danube river. To help you keep track of all the action (i.e. our military successes) I have asked Eumenes to keep an ‘Expedition Scorecard’ (below). He will update it from now until such time as I finally conquer the world.
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Back to the present; there have, of course, been disappointments. I refer, specifically, to the Celts who - despite my crossing the Danube without building a bridge, the destruction of the Getish town and general annihilation of enemy armies (whenever they have had the courtesy to stand and fight, mentioning no names Getae) - still said that they feared the sky falling on their heads more than me.
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These men are undoubtedly as proud as they are tall and one day I will cut them down to a proper size - if we can find whatever northern swamp they live in.
Αλέξανδρος
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POLL
Following on from the visit of the haughty Celts to Alexander’s tent, we asked a random selection of Macedonian soldiers “What do you fear the most?”
Amyntas of Pella The Union of Macedonian Mothers
Amyntas of Pella A spear falling on my head
Amyntas of Pella Sobriety
Amyntas of Pella Having to read Hesiod
Amyntas of Pella Elektra
Amyntas of Pella The fundamental dichotomy between nationalist sentiment and my desire for personal fulfilment
Bucephalus My shadow (answered on his behalf by his groom)
Thanks to all who took part
ADVERTISEMENT
Pine Tree Holiday Resort
Near to retirement age? Want to live somewhere safe and secure? Why not consider Pine Tree Island. It contains homes fit for a king (at the time of writing, one does indeed live there). Pine Tree is only accessible via boat and as we have discovered has very defensible shores. It is the ideal home for loners, misanthropes, men with prices on their head and Athenians.
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Ο ΤΟΥ ΟΙΝΟΥ ΑΝΑΞ
(The Master of the Wine)
The visit of the Celtic ambassadors has given us the opportunity to taste their wine. Like them, it smells funny, is a bit thick, and comes with more hairs than it should. If you don’t mind picking the latter out, however, the wine can be a rewarding drink. Unlike the Celts it is very strong and does not surrender easily. One krater will last at least half an evening for a normal drinker (ten minutes for a Pella Wine Tent regular). We think this may be due to Germanic influence in the Gaulish vinification process.
ο του οινου αναξ
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WINES ON OFFER THIS WEEK
Celtic wines - barbarian and brutal
Hemera Heliou
Wines of the Quadi Has a very mysterious taste
Hemera Selenes
Marcomanni Wine Gives you legs for marching
Hemera Areos
Iazyges Wine Wanders where it will
Hemera Hermu
Getae Wine Not a statement but a tribe
Hemera Dios
Scythian Wine Better than their cooking
Hemera Aphrodites
Triballian Wine It runs, it hides, it loses. We’re not even trying now, are you; just making fun of the Celts [You’re fired - Eumenes]
Hemera Khronu
Free Thracian Wine Stolen from the carts; rolls easily down the throat.
Expedition Scorecard
First Year of Alexander’s Reign
i. Free Thracians (armed traders). Mount Haemus. MACEDONIAN WIN
Notes: Victory incomplete as some Thracians escaped
ii. Triballians. Lyginus River. MACEDONIAN WIN
Notes: Victory incomplete as some Triballians escaped
iii. Getae. Across the Danube. MACEDONIAN WIN
Notes: The Getae were bad sports and ran rather than fight
Clubs and Societies Noticeboard
All dates are subject to change in the event of a battle taking place on that day or cancellation in the event that the host is killed during said battle
Aristobulos and his Chicken
Hemera heliou Join Aristobulos at the Danube as he demonstrates how Alexander effected his exciting crossing of that mighty river using only stuff and tent. Unfortunately, no soldiers could be spared for this demonstration, so the crossing will be undertaken by Aristobulos’ chicken under his guidance.
- Will she make it to the other side without pecking open the tent and eating the hay, grain and whatever else is inside? Come and find out! Bets will be taken
Aristander Discusses
Hemera Selenes Aristander will be holding a symposium on How to Introduce your children to the Gods Without Scaring Them to Death. All parents welcome.
The Sarissa Wine Club
Hemera Areos
The Club President writes,
“The visit of the Celtic ambassadors gave us an opportunity to quiz them regarding the drinking-game habits of the various Celtic tribes. Come to the Pella Wine Tent at sundown to hear what we learnt before we all got drunk (Don’t listen to the nay-sayers; the celts can really put their alcohol away).
…..“Further to the above, after the meeting we will be holding the cremation of those Celts who attempted to join the SWC during their visit and sadly failed. On this point, the Club currently has eight vacancies for new members.
…..“Don’t die wondering what might have happened had you joined. Join. You’ll still die - probably more quickly, too - but at least you’ll die happy.“
The Union of Macedonian Mothers
Hemera Hermu Is your daughter being picked on by her brother? We will be holding a special class “Ambush and Assassination Techniques for Girls” so that she can get her own back.
The UMM. Winning in the Shadows.
River Tours
The Danube. Can you spot what Alexander didn’t use? (Source: Wikipedia)
Hemera Dios Enjoy our stay by the Danube with a trip along the river. For the price of a cup of wine, you can -
- Shout abuse at the Triballians holed up on Pine Tree Island
- Hold sacrifices to your favourite gods
- Pour libations to Danube
- Re-enact famous naval battles with your friends (coracles must be used; extra fee; we take no responsibility for any deaths)
Baggage Train
Theatre
Hemera Aphrodites The Pella Theatre Co. launches its new season with a special Celtic version of Œdipus Rex. All the characters have drooping moustaches, refuse to talk too each other out of haughtiness and worry more about the sky falling on them than accidentally sleeping with their mothers.
Solon’s Daughters
Hemera Khronu Are the prostitutes of Naucratis really so beautiful? Find out in the brothel at the end of the week as we are about to be joined by some new Naucratian girls. For an extra fee, they’ll talk dirty and demotic to you!!!
Sports News
Bull Jumping
Who could have known that Amyntas of Aegae’s peg leg would break under him as he attempted to jump his first bull after being gored. Sadly, Amyntas fell right onto the bull’s horns and was gored again, this time to death. Our condolences go to his family, especially his father, Amyntas, son, Amyntas, and daughter, Amyntas— only joking, Cleopatra.
Running
The Society of Dangerous Runners have started up a new league that may be even more dangerous than membership of the Sarissa Wine Club. The league will comprise of runs from or to dangerous locations. Failure to successfully complete the run may result in painful death. The first run will be the hundred metre dash from Cleopatra of the UMM’s tent to the Aegae Wine Tent after shouting “The UMM are tramps!” at her. If you are hard enough and fast enough to compete, please let Amyntas of Pella know.
Poetry
The winner of this week’s competition is Jason son of Jason for his poem Danube: The Truth
I stood upon the southern shore,
And stretched my arms out wide,
“O Danube, Danube, speak to me
In me you may confide.
Tell me your secrets, tell me your life,
tell me what you know;
Of men, of gods, of animals
of all things high and low.”
And Danube he did hear my call,
My prayer upon the shore.
And these true words he spoke to me,
his unworthy servant poor:
“Blub, blub, blub, blub, bllllrb, blub
gurgle, gurgle, blub
plop, plop, ploppity, plop
gurgle, gurgle, blub.”
Magic words! Mystic words! For this and every age
O Danube may you never cease
to be a blubbing and gurgling sage!
The judges were particularly impressed by Jason’s ability to get inside the Danube’s mind and represent his thought in a way that was respectful of the river’s divinity and majesty and yet also accessible even to young listeners.
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CAMP NOTICES
Editor Eumenes of Cardia
Deputy Editor A Slave
Alexander Revisited: Medius’ Party to Ptolemy’s Soliloquy
Hello, and welcome to the last post in this series on Alexander Revisited. I hope you have enjoyed this talk-through. I certainly have. While Oliver Stone’s film is a flawed one writing these posts has allowed me to appreciate it a little more deeply than would otherwise have been possible. If you haven’t read all the previous posts or would like to refresh your memory you can find the index of them here.
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Scenes Covered
- Medius’ Party
- The Caves of Pella / Olympias’ Bedchamber
- Alexander’s Death
- Babylon/Pella
- Babylon
- Ptolemy’s Soliloquy
Medius’ Party
The scene opens with apparently incongruous shot of a Macedonian (Nearchus?) dressed up as Bacchus. Given that Hephaestion has just died, shouldn’t the scene be more sombre? Actually, no. Oliver Stone has jumped forward eight months to late May/June 323 BC, and the night that Alexander took ill after attending a party given by his friend, Medius.
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I really liked the debauched air of the party - especially stoned Antigonus with his painted eye and the other Macedonians and their make-up and costumes. I exclude Alexander and his lion headdress from this as Heracles was his ancestor.
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When Alexander speaks his voice sounds rough. Here is someone who, perhaps, has been drinking rather more than he should have lately. Although, as I said above we are some months after Hephaestion’s death, I see the roughness in his voice not as a consequence of drinking too much that night or recently but as Oliver Stone’s nod to the physical consequences of Alexander’s deep grief for his friend.
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Previously, I have criticised the film’s cod-freudian interpretation of Alexander’s relationship with his mother but I have to admit, I did the king’s vision of Olympias in the krater - snakes swirling round her face as if she had become Medusa. I don’t know if it is freudian to say so but I think there is a sense in which Alexander was turned to stone (i.e. made weak) by his overbearing mother. Just as Philip warned would happen. At any other point in his life, I suspect Alexander would have become angry or distressed at the sight of his mother. In a sign of how drunk and uncaring of life he had now become, though, he simply smiles and in his second toast, he celebrates ‘the myths’ - that stories that his father warned him about in the caves under Pella.
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I have jumped ahead of myself, though. Before we see Antigonus et al, a very nervous page hands Alexander a krater of wine. Is the young man is apprehensive because he is in the king’s presence? Maybe. But perhaps he knows that the wine is not pure…
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Do the party-goers expressions reveal any clues as to why the page is so nervous? Not just yet -
- Antigonus - stoned
- Ptolemy - sober; concerned; no sign of injuries
- Leonnatus - sober; concerned; recent wounds visible on his face
- Lysimachus (?) - drunk
- Cassander - sober; calm
- The unnamed Persian Prince - happy and relaxed
Things change when Alexander looks around the room. Cassander appears to be anxious, and Ptolemy suddenly very distressed. In my first and second posts in this series, I mentioned that I didn’t think Stone gave Cassander a role in Alexander’s death. A commenter (thank you Sheri!) put me right by saying that Oliver Stone
… uses camera angles to implicate Cassander quite implicitly… he also implicates Ptolemy.
Having now reached the critical moment, I can finally appreciate what she was saying. Could there be any other reason for their expressions - especially Ptolemy’s? Well, their expressions clearly show that they know something is about to happen. Of course, awareness doesn’t imply responsibility but this film is not a murder mystery. I would not expect Oliver Stone to point the finger at one person unless he wanted us to believe that that person did the deed.
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A small detail here - when Alexander holds the krater up, we can see that it is decorated with the image of a soldier striking down his enemy. I’m sure that is not in full view of the camera by coincidence.
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After Alexander has drunk from the krater, the camera returns to Ptolemy. He has recovered his composure. Given how tense he was a moment ago it is quite a turnaround. IS this bad direction? Charitably, we could say that he has relaxed because what needed to be done has been. The matter is over bar the shouting, or rather, dying. I still think he is much too relaxed, though.
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Meanwhile, Alexander collapses. The scene does not end with him, but Bacchus who is still dancing. I can’t quite work out why. Is Nearchus, or whoever it is, not aware that Alexander has collapsed? Or is Oliver Stone implying that he doesn’t care - because he too is part of the conspiracy?
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The Caves of Pella / Olympias’ Bed Chamber
This scene begins with the camera panning through the caves of Pella. After a brief shot of Alexander on his death bed, we meet him again as a young boy in his mother’s bed chamber. Obviously, this is a flashback; at his end, Alexander is remembering the time when he was most happy. Why does Oliver Stone refer to the caves here? I think it is because the caves (or rather, the truths that Philip taught his son in them) represent what went wrong with Alexander’s life. The panning shot, therefore, is a visual representation of Alexander going back in time to when he was happy; before the corruption started.
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If I had written this scene I would have replaced Olympias with Hephaestion. That Oliver Stone uses her, however, is in keeping with his more freudian approach to Alexander’s story. Having said that, the bed chamber scene - a reprisal of a scene we saw much earlier in the film - remains a very touching one. I really liked the close-up of Olympias placing her snake decorated bracelet on the stand. Although it happened in real life (i.e. in the original scene), the taking-off of the bracelet stood for me as representative of Olympias putting the person that she is, apart from that of mother, aside in order to look after her son. It is a very tender moment. It as a high point of the film.
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Alexander’s Death
We return to Babylon. Alexander is in bed, surrounded by his men. His face is worn and his eyes are red - just how how Hephaestion looked when he lay on his deathbed. Although Alexander licked the wine from Hephaestion’s cup suspiciously no more was ever made of this suggestion that he, too, was poisoned.
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Alexander lives long enough to receive ambassadors and gifts from as far away as Greece. In regards the former, someone looking rather like Aristotle appears at 1:01:56 though surely it is not him. On the conspiracy theory, I noted the unnamed man who tells Alexander that he loves him, and - after looking pointedly at the Macedonian generals - his seed. This is why I have enjoyed writing these posts on Alexander Revisited as, despite watching the film several times before, I have never picked up on that man’s very significant words.
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Once the well wishers have gone, Alexander gives a discourse on happiness to Bagoas. What is happiness? He asks him. It is the the doing, he says, not the thinking. This is not the most authentic thing for him to say. Alexander was, after all, very interested in acquiring new knowledge even if winning glory through war was his first objective. Even in terms of the film his words are unconvincing - this is the Alexander, after all, who told Ptolemy that all his cities must have libraries.
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The scene ends with Alexander telling Bagoas ‘It is done’. He means his life but one cannot help but think of Jesus’ last words on the Cross. As much as I love Alexander of Macedon, comparing him to Jesus is not something I would consider terribly wise or relevant.
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The film does not specify how long Alexander is ill for but the presence of the Greek ambassadors suggests a long period. Any doubt that Oliver Stone is playing about with time (again) is removed, however, with when we hear Roxane refer to the upcoming birth of his son - in three months. Alexander, therefore, has been bedridden then for six months. Is there any poison in antiquity that would lay a man low for half a year before killing him? I doubt it. Roxane is ushered out of the bedchamber, accusing the generals standing around the king’s bed of being ‘vultures’. Ptolemy glances at Cassander who in his turn glances glaringly at Roxane.
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At this point we return to the beginning of the film with Nearchus warning Alexander that ‘the army will divide’ if he does not name an heir. Alexander has a series of flashbacks to key moments in his life before saying - no one knows quite what. To the best? To Craterus? This reflects what he is supposed to have said before his death (though not necessarily in the moments before as it is also said that he lost the power of speech) and I’m glad Stone kept it. For what it is worth, I think Alexander had no interest at all in the running of his empire. He was Achilles and lived only to win glory. Therefore, I would consider ‘to the best’ to be the mod likely interpretation if indeed the words were ever spoken.
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Finally, Alexander holds up the ring - to Zeus-Ammon, and dies. The ring falls to the floor and - as his empire will do - shatters. The scene closes with a close-up of Ptolemy, contemplating what he has done and what will now happen.
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Babylon/Pella
The elder Ptolemy now steps in with his assessment of Alexander’s character, and whether Olympias was responsible for Philip II’s murder. The Pella scene ends with a snake biting the eagle that has caught it causing both to fall to the ground. We saw the eagle in Alexander’s last moments. There, it was Zeus. Now, to Olympias who witnesses its fall, it is Alexander. There is, of course, a point of connection between the two as previously Olympias told her son that Zeus was his real father.
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Babylon
We return to the bed chamber, where Alexander’s body now rests to witness the beginning of the collapse of the empire. The generals stride in. Some want Alexander’s body kept where it is, others say it must be returned to Macedon. As the elder Ptolemy says, ‘The wars of the world had begun. [For] Forty years, off and on, they endured.’ As for Alexander’s body, it would be laid to rest neither in Babylon or Macedon but Memphis, and then Alexandria.
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As the generals fight in the bed chamber - and literally over Alexander’s body - the elder Ptolemy outlines what happened in the wars of the diadochoi. A funny spelling error comes onto the screen during the subtitles - Seleucus is called Solucas. The scene closes with a hellish scene of what appears to be a great battle under a sea of orange and red smoke. It seems an appropriate image given the great conflicts that followed. In 2014, 100 years exactly after World War One began, the image still has a very real and uncomfortable resonance.
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Ptolemy’s Soliloquy
The caption says ‘Alexandria, Egypt 285 B.C. - 40 Years Later’ which repeats the error made at the start of the film. If it was correct, Alexander would have died in 325 but a caption that appears on the screen after his death clearly states that it happened in 323.
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In this scene, the elder Ptolemy rounds off the story for us by explaining to his amanuensis what happened to the various central figures in Alexander’s life. Most of his accounts seem to be correct. A couple of things jumped out at me:-
- The way Ptolemy looks at his ring when he refers to Alexander’s son (Alexander IV) as the ‘true heir to the empire’. I don’t suppose that the real Ptolemy ever thought of himself as anything other than the rightful king of Egypt but I liked this touch of doubt
- Ptolemy saying that he trusts that his sons will be ‘just in their affairs’. Philadelphus, yes; Keraunos, hmmm
- Ptolemy’s admission that ‘the truth is, we did kill him. By silence we consented. Because we couldn’t go on’ not so much because they were tired, though, but because they feared sharing Black Cleitus’ fate, of being replaced by Asians. What makes this admission stand out is not so much the ‘truth’ of it but the fact that it comes after Ptolemy has spent the last few minutes eulogising his old friend
- The contradictory nature of the soliloquy. One moment Ptolemy berates Alexander for being a dreamer then celebrates his failure - ‘which towered over other men’s successes’
Ptolemy’s last statement is upbeat.
… the glory and the memory of man will always belong to the ones who follow their great visions. And the greatest of these is the one they now call Megas Alexandros.
There is something quite sad about the elder Ptolemy’s dictation. He all but blames Alexander for forcing his generals to kill him but clearly still idolises him. On the conspiracy theory, there is no proof that the real Ptolemy assassinated Alexander - alone or with the help of others - but here, right at the end of the film, I think Oliver Stone meets the real man. Ptolemy’s nickname is Soter - Saviour* - but should also be the Realist. He rarely fought in the Wars of the Successors but stayed at home in Egypt to build his kingdom. Ptolemy knew his limits. Stone’s Ptolemy does, too. It lead him to (help) kill Alexander but also be fair in his assessment of the king and understand and appreciate his greatness. How did Ptolemy sleep at night with such contradictory thoughts in his head? Like I said, he was a realist. What he did needed to be done. In one fell swoop, the film becomes about the death of heroism and the birth of the sceptical, and utilitarian age from which in 2300 years we have so far failed to emerge.
* Given by the Rhodians for helping them against Antigonus in 304
The Triumph of Friendship over Wealth
For other posts in this series click here
Date 333 BC Place Cydnus River, Asia Minor
Bad Medicine Is What I Need
Philip of Arcanania
Alexander the Great Rescued from the River Cydnus (Pietro Testa). Source: see below
Alexander Falls Ill
It isn’t often that a man gets to show how hard he is in a - ahem - bed chamber, but in the summer of 333 B.C. Philip of Arcanania was given the opportunity and was not found wanting.
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This is how it happened. Alexander took ill after going for a bathe in the Cydnus River. His condition was so bad his doctors wouldn’t treat him in case he died and they got the blame for it. For ‘blame’ read ‘executed’.
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Cometh the hour, cometh the bad ass. Philip had been Alexander’s doctor since the latter’s youth. If the king is going to die, he told himself, I am going down with him. We hear a lot in the news these days about how wonderful the NHS in Britain and ‘Obamacare’ in America are but let’s be honest no British or American doctor would guarantee the success of their treatment with their own life.
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J’Accuse
While Philip was off making the potion, Alexander received a letter from Parmenion. In it, his second-in-command warned that Philip had been bribed by Darius and intended to kill him.
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According to Curtius, Alexander debated with himself whether to accept Philip’s treatment or not. After much thought, he decided he would do so. ‘Better to be killed by someone else’s crime than my own fear’ (Curtius). That’s so Alexander it makes me wonder if he was really ill at all.
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Alexander told no one about the letter. Instead, he sealed it and hid it under his pillow. Philip took two days to finish making his draught. Upon entering Alexander’s bed chamber, he handed it over. In return, Alexander gave him the letter and asked him to read it.
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The Moment of Truth
The king drank the draught ‘with confidence’ (Curtius). Philip’s reaction to Parmenion’s letter, however, depends on which source you read. Curtius says that the physician ‘demonstrated more outrage than fear’. Plutarch says it was a scene worthy of the stage - Alexander serenly drinking the cup while Philip, upon reading the letter, ‘was filled with surprise and alarm’. Significantly, however, the physician was not deflected from his course, and he implored Alexander ‘to take courage and follow his advice’ (Plutarch). Arrian says that Philip simply read the letter and, without alarm, told the king to carry on following his instructions.
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Which ever way you look at it, Philip behaved with commendable strength. Here he was, being stitched up - see below - by the second most powerful man in the Macedonian army and, even in Plutarch’s account, he stood still, stood tall, held firm and held fast. Next time you watch a medical drama on TV and see all the doctors and nurses running around like headless chickens wondering what to do about someone’s broken finger, remember Philip.
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As it happens, the danger wasn’t over yet. Plutarch and Curtius both report that after taking Philip’s medicine, Alexander fell ill again. Curtius says his ‘breathing became intermittent and difficult’. Plutarch tells us that Alexander ‘fell into a swoon and displayed scarcely any sign of sense or of life’.
- Did Philip panic?
- Did Philip run away?
- Did Philip kill himself in fear and shame?
No, of course not, and shame on you if you think he did any of the above. What Philip actually did was stick to his job and carry on treating the king. Soon, Alexander recovered and proved that he was back to his best by giving Darius a well deserved pasting at the Battle of the Issus River a few months later. What a man.
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Epilogue
There is something very suspect about Parmenion’s rôle in this affair. It may just be me but when I consider what Parmenion had to gain by Alexander’s death - as the king’s second-in-command he had a more than reasonable chance of taking the throne in the event of Alexander’s dying without an heir - his bad mouthing of the one doctor who was willing to help the king looks to me like an attempted coup. It was the perfect plan, after all: if Alexander didn’t die, Parmenion could just blame his ‘source’ for providing bad information. We don’t hear anything about who told Parmenion that Philip was going to poison Alexander after the event so I imagine that that is exactly what happened and he got away with it.
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Rating of Hard 8/10
For Philip set himself the target of healing Alexander with primitive medicine knowing that if he failed, he would probably die himself; he kept his head after reading Parmenion’s letter
Against As Alexander’s friend even if the king had died would the other generals really have turned against him? Philip was at Medius’ party and probably helped the king then. We don’t know what happened to him thereafter but if he had been executed for failing to save Alexander’s life, I think one of the sources would have mentioned it.
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Picture Source The Daily Beast. Testa’s painting can be found at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art
A Letter to Arrian (21) On the Banks of the Hyphasis River
My dear Arrian,
Here is the letter I never wanted to write. Or rather, the letter I wish I could have written differently. To what do I refer? Alexander’s death, perhaps? No. It is true that death is a sadness but it is also freedom. It has to happen and it is good that it does. The Macedonian army did not need to mutiny at the Hyphasis River, though, and it is this that I have just read about.
It happens in the pages of your book without warning. One moment Alexander is successfully prosecuting yet another siege, the next his men are depressed and holding meetings ‘at which even the best of them grumbled at their fate’. I suppose the key word here is ‘yet’. I used it as a nod towards Alexander’s perennial success in siegecraft. For his men, though, the word was a whip driving them further and further away from the families they longed to see and rest they needed to have. Maybe I was wrong to be so grumpy in the first paragraph of this letter.
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As regards Alexander’s speech to his officers it could have been written by a man of my own age. This is because he does not seek to take sole credit for his successes but determinedly shares them with his men. In short, he is inclusive.
… your courage and endurance…
… you have made yourself masters of the lands…
… why do you hesitate to extend the power of Macedon - your power…
… the conquered territory belongs to you…
and so forth. Does Alexander mean what he says, though? I think he does, if only to a point. This is proven by his petulant reaction to Coenus’ speech. It reminds me of how some so-called inclusivists in my own time react to people who have the temerity to think differently to them. Sadly, they do not content themselves with sulking in their tents but try to get laws written to enforce their position. As if laws will ever change people’s hearts.
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At the beginning of Book Six of your account you refer to Alexander deleting a passage from a letter to his mother. This has got me to thinking about his relationship with her. The passing years make a mystery of Mankind to himself. Ironically, I think, this is due in part to the efforts of those who develop new ways of actually understanding our characters. Though these learned people may highlight certain truths about men and women, their inaccuracies - for surely no method is perfect - create new barriers to understanding. Who was Olympias, really? Was she as ruthless in spirit as she was in action? Did she care about the source of the Nile or simply want Alexander to come home? Did she pray for her son and his generals? Just him? I am grateful to you, Ptolemy and Aristobulos, my friend, but how I wish we had not just Alexander’s and Olympias’ letters but them to speak to us directly! Well, maybe after death, if the freedom it gives is not the false one of extinction but something greater than Elysium.
Your friend,
φιλέλλην
The above picture is from Ancient History
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An index of all the letters can be found here
Camp Notices: First Blood Edition
Megas Alexandros
The King’s Speech
River Lyginus
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Last summer, the Greeks (except the Lacedaemonians about whom nobody cares) voted to make me supreme commander of the expedition against the Persians. It was a glorious moment which, if you can remember it, means you weren’t there. I believe there are soldiers who are still nursing hangovers from the after-voting parties.
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Thirteen days ago, those of us who had recovered, set out from Amphipolis to secure Macedon’s borders against attack from the Triballian and Illyrian people. On Mount Haemus the phalanx was attacked by an avalanche of carts and not one man was killed.
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How did this miracle happen? Well, we know how; I would like to point you to the why. The phalanx survived because,
α. It obeyed my orders
β. The gods are on our side
γ. See (α) and (β) above and repeat to my your heart’s content
As we continue operations against our Thracian foes and prepare for the Persian war, I know that you will not forget the above. Particularly (α). Why would you? Obedience to me will ensure that glory, even if not long life, awaits you. And if glory is not enough of a reason consider that following (α) will virtually guarantee you a quicker death than a traitor gets. No king who sometimes has to execute even his friends can say much fairer than that.
Have a good day.
Alexander
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POLL
The Camp Notices is dedicated to getting to know what the rank and file think. This has nothing to do with intelligence gathering and everything to do with a genuine interest in the soldiers’ thoughts. Honest. This week, we asked a random selection of phalangites,
“Which country are you looking most forward to invading, and why?“
Amyntas of Aegae Egypt, because it’s rich
Amyntas of Lyncestia Same as Amyntas - Egypt, because it’s rich
Amyntas of Methani Rhodes. It has money and lots of ships. I like ships
Amyntas of Amphipolis Same as Amyntas and Amyntas, though not Amyntas - Egypt, because it’s rich
Amyntas of Olynthus Egypt, because it’s rich. Has anyone said that?
Amyntas of Pella Egypt - I hear the women are beautiful. Oh yes, and it’s rich
Ptolemaios of Pella Egypt, because it is rich
Thanks to all who took part
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Ο ΤΟΥ ΟΙΝΟΥ ΑΝΑΞ
(The Master of the Wine)
I have had a busy three days since the Macedonian phalanx locked shields and bravely lay down underneath them so that the oncoming Thracian carts did no more than clatter over head and body.
For, despite the fact that the Pella Wine Tent’s amphorae are carried on armoured carts in the middle of the baggage train surrounded by veterans who are sworn to protect them even unto death, despite all this, an ugly and false rumour went round that some of the enemy carts kept running after leaving the phalanx and smashed into the PWT’s amphorae spilling the wine into the ground. There was panic, and I believe one man drowned himself in mud alleged to have been created by the wine spill, shouting as he dived, “Give me wine or give me death!”.
As soon as I heard this rumour I made it my responsibility to go up and down the line and inform as many of you as possible that it was not so. With these new Camp Notices I am delighted to tell all of you in writing (or those of you who can read, anyway) what I have been saying with my own tongue these last seventy-two hours straight: OUR WINE IS SAFE. If you don’t believe me, come to the tent. See; Drink; Believe! Get drunk; join the Sarissa Wine Club; enjoy the remaining three hours of your life before you accidentally decapitate yourself drinking wine from a hollowed out sarissa!
Amyntas
ο του οινου αναξ
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WINES ON OFFER THIS WEEK
Archon wines inspired by Athens’ first rulers
Hemera Heliou
MEDON WINE Very popular in Delphi
Hemera Selenes
ACASTUS WINE Said to be so strong it’ll make a democrat of a king; not true
Hemera Areos
ARCHIPPUS WINE A lighter version of the Acastus wine
Hemera Hermu
THERSIPPUS WINE So strong you’ll want it to rule you for life
Hemera Dios
PHORBAS WINE Too strong for Trojans
Hemera Aphrodites
MEGACLES WINE This wine can also function as a clothes cleaner removing even impossible staines
Hemera Khronu
DIOGNETUS WINE For pro-drinkers and alcoholics only as gives you a headache that’ll last for thirty years* (*days)
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ADVERTISEMENT
CARTS FOR SALE
- Did you capture any men, women or children or possessions belonging to said invidiuals in the fighting following the Thracians’ “sauve-qui-peut” on Mount Haemus?
- Have you nothing to put the goods or injured civilians on as a result?
A number of carts survived their close encounter with our phalanx and are available for sale at competitive prices from Honest Amyntas. If you would like to buy one, put the word out and he’ll find you.
Clubs and Societies Noticeboard
All dates are subject to change in the event of a battle taking place on that day or cancellation in the event that the host is killed during said battle
Aristobulos and his Chicken
This hemera heliou join Aristobulos as he conducts an exciting experiment at the top of the nearest hill. Amyntas the modeller has kindly made him a to-scale cart and figurines with which he will demonstrate to those who didn’t see what happened on Mount Haemus how the Thracians tried to kill our mighty men. To add an extra bit of excitement, though, Aristobulos will be adding grain to the cart and placing his chicken in it.
- Will she eat all the grain before the cart reaches the bottom of the hill?
- Will the noise of the shields cause her to fly away?
- Will she fly away as the cart flies down the hill?
Come along and find out!
Aristander Discusses
The Linear b Rite of the daily sacrifices is enjoying a resurgence in popularity among old and young alike. Join Aristander in his tent on the next hemera Selenes as he explains what these ancient and venerable words mean. Wine will be served. By the end of the evening you will either be drunk or able to conduct your own private offerings in Mycenaean Greek.
DID YOU KNOW? The Mycenaeans had 123.5 words for ‘wine’? Depending upon demand, Aristander will be holding classes to teach them to any who are interested.
The Sarissa Wine Club on its way to drink
The Sarissa Wine Club
The Club President Writes,
“It has come to my attention that Club members who took Thracians prisoner during our recent engagement with them on Mount Haemus have been forcing their slaves to drink wine out of their hollowed-out sarissae.
…..“This is an unacceptable practice.
…..“The right to drink wine out of a hollowed-out sarissa is given to us by the king and is not to be taken lightly lest he choose to deprive us of it. Members should resist with great strength the pleas even of their mothers and fathers should they ask them if they might also drink from their sarissa. Remember, non-members are non-trained and cannot be relied upon to drink safely from our most deadly of weapons.
…..“Some will say ‘But neither can Sarissa Wine Club members, that’s why you have on average three cremations a week and a permanent recruitment drive’ and while that’s true it is also beside the point. In any case, why risk killing your slave when you will be able to get a good price for him or her in the market place?
…..“To bring order to the situation, we will be holding a special Slave Sarissa Wine Drinking competition in the Pella Wine Tent this coming hemera Areos. All slaves nominated for the contest will be given full training on how to safely drink wine out of a sarissa half an hour beforehand, or twenty minutes if I’m late. The winning slave owner will receive an amphora of wine of his choice. The slave will receive nothing as he is scum and not to be regarded as human, although I need to check up on that.”
The Union of Macedonian Mothers
Alexander’s army has fought its first battle. The men are already growing rich. Can they be relied upon to save or spend their money wisely? No, of course not. Given half a chance they’ll spend it on wine, whores or by gambling it away. Do you want to stop this from happening? If so, come to our symposium on the hemera hermu next week to how to simultaneously take control of your husband’s money and convince him that he is still in charge of it
Booty Tracker
Did you send any slaves or booty home after our fight with the Thracians? Did you ask for confirmation of its arrival at the correct location? Join us on the next hemera Dios. By then, a messenger should have arrived from Lysanias and Philotas to let us know that everything has indeed been delivered to the correct place. If it turns out your slave(s)/booty has gone astray you can let us know and we will write to Lysanias and Philotas by return so that they can put the matter right.
You earned your reward. Don’t let it slip away!
Baggage Train
Family Entertainment
This coming hemera Aphrodites, Amyntas of the popular Amyntas, Amyntas and Cleopatra acting troupe will be presenting a one-man show “A Day in the Life of Hesiod” which seeks to explore in as authentic a manner as possible the boring existence of the man who has somehow become our second most famous poet. The production is aimed at hyperactive children and comes with a guarantee that by the end of it even they will be stupefied to the point of utter and deep stillness.
Solon’s Daughters
Next hemera Khronu, the Daughters will be holding a Whores and Hegemons party to celebrate recent Macedonian successes over the awful Thracians. Come dressed up. If you do, though, please make sure the costume belongs to you.
Sports News
Pankration
Congratulations to Amyntas of Aegae on his victory over Amyntas of Aegae in the Pan-Hellenic Pankration League this week; it was a win that was all the more remarkable for Amyntas having blinded Amyntas in both eyes in the early moments of the contest.
Bull Jumping
Commiserations to Amyntas of Aegae who had to have his leg amputed this week following his goring ten days ago. We understand, however, that he will be taking part in the peg leg competition where he is certain to be a success.
Medea and Jason
Poetry
Congratulations to Marcus the Roman who won this week’s first prize with his poem titled ‘Medea Upon Slaying Her Children’. The full text of his winning entry is as follows.
Oops
Marcus writes,
“My poem is an epic romance which seeks to draw elements of high mythology and social realism together in order to form an organic whole. Medea has often been regarded as wholly to blame for the deaths of her children, Tisander and Alcimenes; what I wanted to do is subvert that traditional understanding of her rôle by presenting a view of her which not only dissonant and discomforting but also tender and life-affirming. My Medea is Life - my life, your life, everyone’s life; as my words reveal, she is - in effect - the Cosmic Other. I hope that in reading my poem, the reader will be inspired to contemplate the mysteries of our existence in a way that he has never done before.”
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CAMP NOTICES
Editor Eumenes of Cardia
Deputy Editor A Slave
Alexander’s Visit to Troy
Following in Alexander’s footsteps thanks to Google Maps!
- For other posts in this series, click here
Troy is located just ‘under’ the Propontis (Sea of Marmara) on this map
Alexander advanced with his army to the Hellespont and transported it from Europe to Asia. He personally sailed with sixty fighting ships to the Troad, where he flung his spear from the ship and fixed it in the ground, and then leapt ashore himself the first of the Macedonians, signifying that he received Asia from the gods as a spear-won prize.
(Diodorus XVII. 17)
Troy on the east coast of Asia Minor (Turkey)
[Alexander] travelled inland to Troy and offered sacrifice to Athena, patron goddess of the city; here he made a gift of his armour to the temple, and took in exchange, from where they hung on the temple walls, some weapons which were still preserved from the Trojan war. These are supposed to have been carried before him by his bodyguard when he went into battle.
(Arrian I. 11)
Troy is a ruin today but, as you can see, it is still popular with photographers
He is also said to have offered sacrifice to Priam on the altar of Zeus Herceius, to avert his anger against the family of Neoptolemus, whose blood still ran in his own veins.
At Troy his sailing master, Menoetius, crowned him with gold, as did Chares the Athenian, who came from Sigeium with a number of others, either Greeks or natives.
One account says that Hephaestion laid a wreath on the tomb of Patroclus; another that Alexander laid one on the tomb of Achilles, calling him a lucky man, in that he had Homer to proclaim his deeds and preserve his memory.
(Arrian I. 11 - 12)
Troy, the city that fell for a woman’s beauty
Once arrived in Asia, [Alexander] went up to Troy, sacrificed to Athena and poured libations to the heroes of the Greek army. He smeared himself with oil and ran a race naked with his companions, as the custom is, and then crowned with a wreath the column which marks the grave of Achilles; he also remarked that Achilles was happy in having found a faithful friend while he lived and a great poet to sing of his deeds after his death.
While he was walking about the city and looking at its ancient remains, somebody asked him whether he wished to see the lyre which had once belonged to Alexander [Paris] of Troy. He answered that he cared nothing for that lyre but asked for the lyre which Achilles played when he sang of the glorious deeds of brave men.
(Plutarch, Life of Alexander, 15)
